Southwest monsoon advances into parts of Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, says IMD

The southwest monsoon on Tuesday advanced into parts of the southern Bay of Bengal, the southern Andaman Sea, the Nicobar Islands and some parts of the North Andaman Sea, said the India Meteorological Department.

The weather agency added that conditions were favourable for it to further advance over some parts of South Arabian Sea, the Maldives and Comorin areas, some more parts of the South Bay of Bengal, entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, remaining parts of Andaman Sea and some parts of central Bay of Bengal during the next three to four days.

The southwest monsoon season generally begins in June and starts to retreat by September.

The India Meteorological Department declares the onset of the season when it hits Kerala.

While the normal onset date of the season is June 1, it is expected to advance over Kerala about five days earlier this year, The Indian Express reported.

On April 15, the India Meteorological Department said that rainfall during the southwest monsoon season this year was likely to be above normal.

It added that the country was expected to get 105% of the long-period average rainfall, which refers to the mean rainfall during the four-month monsoon season over the last 50 years.

As per the weather agency, rainfall between 96% and 104% of the long-period average, which is 87 cm, is...

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